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Getting the full experience

I'm visiting friends in NYC in September for 7 days and after that I have another 7-9 days I can travel. Since traveling form South Africa it's very far and very expensive, so I'd like to get a vast variety of experiences in the 16 days.

Since spending 7 days in NYC, I thought of going to San Fran, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon & Antelope Canyon to get another feel. But now people have told me with the limited time I have I should rather skip San Fran and go to Vermont.

I would really appreciate any advice since it's my 1st and probably last visit in a very long time. How long should I spend in each place and also how long will jet lag affect me and should I set aside a day or two for recovery and no sight seeing?

If Vermont is in full color when you are there, it would be worth going there, and seeing some of the Hudson Valley sights on the way. But unfortunately nature's timing is not that accurate. On the other hand, September brings summer weather to San Francisco--it rarely rains during this month. I would not choose to go to the Grand Canyon etc. with the limited time, but perhaps explore the coast down to Big Sur and see the redwoods that are in this general area.

Very personal decisions without a right or wrong answer. I'm not sure I understand why Vermont unless people thought it would be leaf changing season. Sept. is a bit early. Mid Oct. is typically the best time for that. Seeing Vermont really requires driving/renting a car. If that's an option you can consider it. There are other places closer to NYC that you could visit to see some country and use the train. The train ride up the Hudson to Albany or even closer, Cold Spring or Rhinebeck are quite pretty. There's a foot bridge across the Hudson. http://walkway.org/index.php

I think San Francisco is a great city but I love cities. You really haven't told us anything about your interests other than photography. Las Vegas is the last place I'd go but you obviously feel differently. New Orleans is a unique city in the US and one I'd recommend. Help us help you by telling us what you like and what you like to photograph.

Sept is too early for foliage in Vermont and see no particular reason to go there. If it were about Oct 10th or so (but timing is different every year) then it would be worth a day or so.

I think SF is a great choice and the Pacific coast and redwoods would make wonderufl photos - as would the Grand Canyon. IMHO Las Vegas is a huge waste of time and money - but perhpas it provides something that you want to see.

>>I think SF is a great choice and the Pacific coast and redwoods would make wonderufl photos - as would the Grand Canyon. IMHO Las Vegas is a huge waste of time and money - but perhpas it provides something that you want to see.<<

I agree with nytraveler. Another possibility would be fly to Las Vegas, spend a day there if you want, then drive to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon NP, and the Grand Canyon. You could do that pretty easily in 7-9 days, and the scenery is spectacular.

I'm surprised no one has suggested Washington, DC, unless it's because you are looking for places to experience natural beauty. I agree with others that the Southwest would provide plenty of that and make quite a contrast.

If you did decide to visit DC then you could get away from the city by spending some time in the mountains of Virginia and/or West Virginia (not as high as, and more rounded than, the mountains out West).

Although you will feel some effects from jet lag, you probably won't need to set aside entire days to rest and not sightsee.

Where are you flying back home from? If you can fly into NY and home from SF or someplace else that would be one thing, if you have to fly home from NY then I would give different advice.

If flying home from NY then I'd stick to the east coast. But with an additional week you could see way more than Vermont. I would go to Boston and up the coast of Maine and then back through interior New England (which could include Vermont). Will you have a car? You could even do that for 4 or 5 days and then go down to Washington DC for another 2-3 days.

On the other hand if you can fly home from someplace out west I'd pick one place - either Grand Canyon area or SF and coast area. With a week you could see a fair amount of either area, but not both.

Being from the East Coast, I would forget Vermont. Agree with MikePinTucson on the "grand circle". Have been to all of these places and have some really fabulous photos from Bryce Canyon. The color of the rock and the blue sky is just hard to beat. San Francisco in my opinion as a photo op does not compare with the "grand circle".